Collection Summary: The records of the American Federation of Arts (AFA) thoroughly document the Federation's founding and history of sponsoring exhibitions and programs supporting the study and promotion of American art, both nationally and abroad. Included are correspondence, subject files, exhibition files, reports, financial statements, printed material, and photographs.

Biographical/Historical Note: Organized 1909; New York, N.Y.

The bulk of the records were donated by the American Federation of Arts between 1964 and 1966. In 1972, AFA donated 16 photographs taken by Geoffrey Clements of artists whose work was exhibited in "Ten Negro Artists from the United States" in Dakar, Senegal's First World Festival of Negro Arts (circulated by AFA). In 1978, Christopher Cook of the Addison Gallery donated sound recordings from the AFA's 1951 annual meeting in Philadelphia, and in 1979, Preston Bolton donated letters regarding planning for the 1957 AFA Annual Convention held in Houston, Texas, convention minutes from 1956, and newsletters.